Authentication system and electronic pen

Abstract

To provide an authentication system capable of comparatively easily performing authentication by an electronic pen.SOLUTION: The authentication system comprises an electronic pen and an electronic apparatus. The electronic pen includes: a battery; a pickup section including, at a rear end side opposite a tip side for inputting position indication of a cylindrical casing, a pickup circuit portion that picks up color or image information of an arbitrary portion, and a transmission portion that transmits the color or image information to the electronic apparatus. The electronic apparatus compares the color or image information received from the electronic pen with stored color or image authentication reference information to determine whether or not an authentication target can be authenticated. The pickup section includes detection means for detecting operations to start and end pickup by a user and a controller. The controller controls the supply of power source voltage from the battery to the pickup circuit portion, and the transmission portion on the basis of a detection state in the detection means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an authentication system using an electronic pen, and also to an electronic pen used in the authentication system. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, as portable devices such as personal computers (hereinafter referred to as PCs) and smartphones become smaller and thinner, position detection sensors such as touch panels are provided superimposed on the display screens, making it possible to perform operation inputs through the display screens. Electronic pens are now being used as a means for performing operation inputs through the display screens.

[0003] Meanwhile, a wide variety of application programs are installed on PCs and smartphones, and a wide variety of data files and data folders are often stored in them. Among the wide variety of application programs, data files and data folders, there are some that users want to ensure (protect) security and prevent unauthorized access by others.

[0004] In order to satisfy this demand, various authentication methods and authentication systems have been provided for ensuring security by authenticating the object for which security is desired.

[0005] A commonly used authentication method is to set and register a secret code using numbers, letters, symbols, etc. in advance, and determine whether or not to authenticate by comparing the set and registered secret code with the secret code entered at the time of authentication.

[0006] However, a PIN code that is a combination of numbers, letters, and symbols has a problem in that it is relatively easy for others to decipher if it has a small number of digits. Therefore, security is improved by using a large number of digits and a mixture of numbers, letters, and symbols. However, when the number of digits of a PIN code is large, there is a problem in that the input work is troublesome and there is a risk that the user will forget the PIN code.

[0007] One method for solving this problem is an authentication system that uses biometric information such as fingerprints, irises, and veins as authentication information (see Patent Document 1 (JP 2004-156265 A) and Patent Document 2 (JP 2010-250475 A), etc.). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] JP 2004-156265 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2010-250475 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] However, when biometric information such as fingerprints, irises, and veins are used as authentication information, it has the advantage of simplifying user operations and eliminating the need to memorize a multi-digit PIN code. However, it requires special devices to obtain the biometric information, which results in problems such as the authentication system becoming large-scale, the burden of information processing becoming heavy, and high costs.

[0010] Furthermore, since no one other than the person who registered the biometric information as authentication information can deactivate the security, the PC or mobile device cannot be used by anyone other than the person who registered the biometric information, which may actually be inconvenient.

[0011] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide an authentication system capable of solving the above problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] In order to solve the above problems, An authentication system including an electronic pen and an electronic device that receives a signal from the electronic pen and authenticates an object to be authenticated, The electronic pen is With a battery, a pickup unit provided at a rear end of the cylindrical housing opposite in an axial direction to a tip end for inputting a position by interacting with a position detection sensor, the pickup unit including a pickup circuit for picking up a color or an image of an arbitrary portion to obtain color information or image information, and a transmission unit for transmitting the color information or image information obtained by the pickup circuit to the electronic device; The electronic device includes: an authentication reference information storage unit that stores color authentication reference information or image authentication reference information; an authentication possibility determination unit that compares the color information or the image information received from the electronic pen with the color information for authentication reference or the image information for authentication reference stored in the authentication reference information storage unit to determine whether or not the authentication target is to be authenticated; In an authentication system comprising: The pickup unit includes: a detection means for detecting that a user has performed an operation for starting the pickup and an operation for terminating the pickup; a control unit that receives a voltage from the battery power source and goes into a standby state before the pickup is started to operate in order to monitor a state of detection by the detection means; Equipped with When the detection means detects that an operation for starting the pickup has been performed, the control unit controls the pickup circuit unit and the transmission unit to supply power supply voltage from the battery to cause the pickup circuit unit to execute the pickup operation, and controls the transmission unit to transmit the color information or the image information picked up by the pickup circuit unit to the electronic device, and when the detection means detects that an operation for terminating the pickup has been performed, controls the supply of power supply voltage from the battery to the pickup circuit unit and the transmission unit to be stopped. The present invention provides an authentication system.

[0013] In the authentication system having the above-mentioned configuration, when the detection means detects that an operation has been performed to start pickup by the pickup section at the rear end of the electronic pen, the control section supplies power supply voltage from the battery to the pickup circuit section and the transmission section, and color information or image information is picked up by the pickup circuit section and transmitted from the transmission section to the electronic device. Then, when the detection means detects that an operation has been performed to end pickup by the pickup section, the supply of power supply voltage from the battery to the pickup circuit section and the transmission section is stopped, and the operation of picking up color information or image information and the operation of transmitting it to the electronic device are stopped.

[0014] The electronic device receives the color information or image information sent from the electronic pen, and compares the received color information or image information with the color authentication reference information or image authentication reference information stored in the authentication reference information memory unit to determine whether or not to authenticate the authentication target.

[0015] As described above, according to the authentication system having the above-mentioned configuration, the electronic device performs signature authentication processing using color information or image information of an arbitrary part picked up by the pickup unit provided at the rear end side of the electronic pen. Therefore, it is possible to improve the accuracy of signature authentication and ensure higher security. In addition, the authentication information can be color or image information of an arbitrary part, which is very convenient. And, in the electronic pen, the power supply voltage from the battery power source is controlled to be supplied to the pickup circuit unit and the transmission unit only when the electronic pen picks up a color or image and transmits it to the electronic device, so that battery consumption can be reduced. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of a configuration example of an embodiment of an authentication system according to the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electronic pen main body of an electronic pen constituting a first embodiment of an authentication system according to the present invention; [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a pickup unit constituting the first embodiment of the authentication system according to the present invention. [Figure 4] 4 is a diagram for explaining a part of the pickup unit in the example of FIG. 3. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electronic device constituting a first embodiment of an authentication system according to the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of a pickup unit of an electronic pen in the authentication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 3 is a diagram for explaining the stored contents of an authentication reference information storage unit in the first embodiment of the authentication system according to the present invention; FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a part of a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the electronic device in the authentication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a part of a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the electronic device in the authentication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a part of a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the electronic device in the authentication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 13 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electronic pen main body of an electronic pen constituting a second embodiment of an authentication system according to the present invention; FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of a pickup unit of an electronic pen in an authentication system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] 13 is a diagram for explaining the stored contents of an authentication reference information storage unit in the authentication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a part of a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of an electronic device in an authentication system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a part of a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of an electronic device in an authentication system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a part of a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of an electronic device in an authentication system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a part of a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of an electronic device in an authentication system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electronic pen main body of an electronic pen constituting a third embodiment of an authentication system according to the present invention. [Figure 19] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of a pickup unit of an electronic pen in an authentication system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of an electronic pen main body of an electronic pen in an authentication system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 21] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a part of a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of an electronic device in an authentication system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 22] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a part of a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of an electronic device in an authentication system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 23] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a part of a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of an electronic device in an authentication system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 24] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a part of a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of an electronic device in an authentication system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 25] 13 is a diagram used to explain an example of the operation of an electronic device in an authentication system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 26] 13 is a diagram for explaining the stored contents of an authentication reference information storage unit in the authentication system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of an authentication system and an electronic pen according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0018] [First embodiment] 1 is a diagram showing an overview of an embodiment of an authentication system according to the present invention. The authentication system of this embodiment comprises an electronic pen 1 and an electronic device 2. The electronic pen 1 of this embodiment is configured by combining an electronic pen main body unit 10 and a pickup unit 11.

[0019] In this example, the electronic pen body 10 is provided with a power supply voltage generating section, and is configured as a so-called active electrostatic type that supplies a position detection signal to the sensor section of the electronic device 2 by electrostatic coupling. As will be described later, in this example, the power supply voltage generating section is configured as a battery that can be charged by an electromagnetic induction type or the like. The battery may of course be a primary battery. Furthermore, the electronic pen body 10 is not limited to being configured as an active electrostatic type, and may be configured as a passive electrostatic capacitance type or an electromagnetic induction type.

[0020] The pickup unit 11 is configured to be removable from the electronic pen body 10 as a separate unit (adapter) from the electronic pen body 10. The pickup unit 11 is configured to be connected and coupled to a rear end 10b in the axial direction on the opposite side to the pen tip 10a side of the electronic pen body 10, in this example, via a USB (Universal Serial Bus).

[0021] 1, a USB connector jack 106 is provided at the rear end 10b of the electronic pen body 10, while a USB connector plug 111 is provided at the pickup unit 11. When the USB connector plug 111 of the pickup unit 11 is inserted into the USB connector jack 106 of the electronic pen body 10, the electronic pen body 10 and the pickup unit 11 are physically and electrically coupled to each other.

[0022] In this embodiment, the pickup unit 11 does not include a battery, and receives a power supply voltage from the battery of the electronic pen body unit 10 through the USB connection unit. The pickup unit 11 has a function of picking up color information as authentication information in this example and transmitting it to the electronic device 2. That is, when the axial direction of the electronic pen body unit 10 is perpendicular to a predetermined flat surface and the rear end of the pickup unit 11 is pressed against a portion of the predetermined flat surface that exhibits an arbitrary color, the pickup unit 11 is configured to pick up the color of the portion of the flat surface against which it is pressed, and transmit the picked-up color information to the electronic device 2, as described below.

[0023] In this example, the electronic device 2 is configured to be a thin and small pad-type personal computer as shown in Fig. 1. The electronic device 2 is provided with various application programs and has a function of performing various information processing, and in this example, is provided with a position detection sensor that interacts with the electronic pen 1, and is configured to allow the electronic pen 1 to be used as an operation input device. Furthermore, the electronic device 2 has a function of protecting the security of authentication targets such as application programs and data files by using color information sent from the pickup unit 11 of the electronic pen 1 as authentication information.

[0024] <Configuration Example of Electronic Pen Body 10> 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the electronic pen body 10 of this embodiment. The electronic pen body 10 includes, in a hollow portion of a cylindrical housing 101, a battery BT as an example of a power supply voltage generator, a signal generating circuit 102, a control unit 103 configured with an IC (Integrated Circuit), and a writing pressure detection unit 104. A core body 105 made of a conductor is disposed so that the tip of the pen tip unit 10a protrudes from an opening 101a on the pen tip unit 10a side in the axial direction of the housing 101, and the side opposite to the tip side of the core body 105 is coupled to the writing pressure detection unit 104 and disposed in the housing 101 of the electronic pen body 10.

[0025] Furthermore, in this example, a USB connector jack 106 is provided at an opening 101b at the rear end 10b on the opposite side of the axial direction from the pen tip portion 10a of the housing 101. The USB connector jack 106 is connected to the control unit 103 through a USB interface 107. Also, the power supply voltage from the battery BT is supplied to the pickup unit 11 connected to this USB connector jack 106 through the USB interface 107 and the USB connector jack 106.

[0026] In the electronic pen body 10 of this embodiment, the signal generating circuit 102 supplies a position detection signal to the core body 105 under the control of the control unit 103. The core body 105 of the electronic pen body 10 of the electronic pen 1 and the position detection sensor of the electronic device 2 are capacitively coupled, so that a signal from the core body 105 of the electronic pen body 10 is received by the position detection of the electronic device 2.

[0027] In other words, when a position is indicated by the core body 105 of the electronic pen 1 on the position detection sensor of the electronic device 2, a position detection signal sent from the core body 105 is received by the position detection sensor of the electronic device 2 through interaction due to capacitive coupling between the core body 105 of the electronic pen main body 10 and the position detection sensor of the electronic device 2, and the position indicated by the core body 105 of the electronic pen main body 10 (position coordinates on the position detection sensor) is detected in the electronic device 2 as described below.

[0028] In this example, the control unit 103 also generates writing pressure information according to the writing pressure value detected by the writing pressure detection unit 104, and supplies it to the signal generation circuit 102. The signal generation circuit 102 is configured to supply the writing pressure information together with the position detection signal to the core body 105 by, for example, a time division multiplexing system, a frequency multiplexing system, or other signal multiplexing system, and then supplies it to the electronic device 2. Note that the signal generation circuit 102 may be configured to transmit the position detection signal as a burst signal, and to transmit the writing pressure information as digital information, modulating it into an OOK (On-Off Keying) signal or an ASK (Amplitude Shift Keying) signal.

[0029] <Configuration example of pickup unit 11> Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the pickup unit 11 of this embodiment. Fig. 3 shows the rear end side of the pickup unit 11 facing downward, with Fig. 3(A) showing the rear end of the pickup unit 11 in a free state without being blocked, and Fig. 3(B) showing the rear end of the pickup unit 11 pressed against an arbitrary flat portion FL, with the opening of the rear end of the pickup unit 11 being blocked.

[0030] 3A and 3B, the pickup unit 11 includes a USB connector plug 111 in this example on the opening 112a side of the cylindrical housing 112 on the side where the electronic pen body 10 is coupled to the electronic pen body 10. A lens 113 is disposed in an opening 112b at the rear end on the side opposite to the side where the electronic pen body 10 is coupled to the hollow part of the housing 112 of the pickup unit 11 in the axial direction, inside the hollow part of the housing 112 of the pickup unit 11. A color detection component including the lens 113 as a component is disposed inside the lens 113. Furthermore, a USB interface 115 disposed on a printed circuit board 114, a control unit 116, a power supply circuit 117, a wireless communication unit 118, and a memory 119 are disposed in the hollow part of the housing 112 of the pickup unit 11.

[0031] In this example, the wireless communication unit 118 is configured by a wireless communication unit of a short-distance wireless communication method, for example, the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard. The wireless communication unit 118 is not limited to such wireless communication means using radio waves, and may also use, for example, optical communication means using infrared rays.

[0032] When the electronic pen body 10 and the pickup unit 11 are USB-connected, the USB interface 115 supplies a power supply voltage from the battery BT of the electronic pen body 10 to the power supply circuit 117. The power supply circuit 117 generates a power supply voltage for each unit of the pickup unit 11 and supplies the power supply voltage to the control unit 116, wireless communication unit 118, and memory 119, and also supplies the power supply voltage to the light-emitting element 121, light-receiving unit 122, color detection circuit 123, and press detection switch 124 that constitute the color detection configuration unit.

[0033] The control unit 116 stores the color information picked up and generated by the color detection component as described below in the memory 119, and also controls the transmission of the information to the electronic device 2 via the wireless communication unit 118. The control unit 116 also has a function of controlling the operation of picking up the color by the color detection component.

[0034] In this example, the color detection component is configured to include, in addition to the lens 113, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) as an example of a light-emitting element 121, a light-receiving unit 122, a color detection circuit 123, a press detection switch 124, and a holder unit 125.

[0035] 3(A) and (B), the light receiving unit 122 and the color detection circuit 123 are housed as a unit in a case 126, and the case 126 is disposed behind the lens 113 in a state in which the case 126 can move together with the lens 113. In this case, the case 126 is disposed behind the lens 113 in a state in which the light receiving unit 122 can receive the light focused by the lens 113.

[0036] 4, the light receiving unit 122 in this example is composed of optical filters Fr, Fg, Fb that transmit only red light, green light, and blue light, respectively, and phototransistors PTr, PTg, PTb that receive the red light, green light, and blue light that have passed through the optical filters Fr, Fg, Fb, respectively. Then, light receiving output signals of the phototransistors PTr, PTg, PTb are supplied to the color detection circuit 123.

[0037] The color detection circuit 123 generates color information from the light receiving output signals corresponding to the light receiving levels of red light, green light, and blue light from the phototransistors PTr, PTg, and PTb of the light receiving unit 122. For example, the color detection circuit 123 converts the light receiving output signals of red light, green light, and blue light into digital signals Dr, Dg, and Db of multiple bits, for example, 8 bits, corresponding to the respective signal levels. In addition, lightness information (luminance information) indicating brightness is also generated from the light receiving output signals as, for example, an 8-bit digital signal Y, and is configured as color information together with the digital signals Dr, Dg, and Db. In this embodiment, the color detection circuit 123 generates color information in the L*a*b* color system obtained by mathematically converting the digital signals Dr, Dg, Db, and Y.

[0038] The color information generated by the color detection circuit 123 is not limited to color information in the L*a*b* color system, but may be color information in the RGB color system using the three primary colors of red, green, and blue light, or color information in the L*u*v* color system or other color systems.

[0039] 3, the holder section 125 is disposed in a state where it cannot move in the axial direction at the rear end side within the hollow section of the housing 112 of the pickup section 11. A recess 125a that opens on the lens 113 side is provided in the center of this holder section 125, and a press detection switch 124 is disposed at the bottom of the recess 125a.

[0040] The pressure detection switch 124 has a presser 124a, and is configured to be in an off state when the presser 124a is not pressed, and to be in an on state when the presser 124a is pressed. In this embodiment, the pressure detection switch 124 is disposed in a recess 125a of the holder part 125 with the presser 124a protruding toward the lens 113. The pressure detection switch 124 is connected to the control part 116, and the control part 116 has a function of monitoring the switch state of the pressure detection switch 124.

[0041] Case 126, which houses light receiving unit 122 and color detection circuit 123 and is attached to the rear side of lens 113, is provided facing presser 124a of press detection switch 124. In this case, case 126 is smaller than the inner diameter of recess 125a of holder unit 125, and therefore case 126 is movable in the direction of pressing presser 124a.

[0042] In this example, a plurality of light-emitting elements (LEDs) 121 are arranged around the opening of the recess 125a of the holder part 125 on the lens 113 side. The plurality of light-emitting elements 121 are configured so that their lighting and extinguishing are controlled by a control signal from the control part 116.

[0043] In this example, the multiple light-emitting elements 121 are disposed at equal intervals around the opening of the recess 125a of the holder part 125 on the lens 113 side, for example. Although a single light-emitting element 121 may be used to pick up a color, by configuring it as in this example, when the pickup part 11 is pressed against the flat part FL, as shown in Fig. 3(B), the emitted light is irradiated onto the flat part FL through the lens 113, and the light reflected from the flat part FL can be uniformly incident on the light-receiving surface of the light-receiving part 122 through the lens 113.

[0044] In this embodiment, an elastic member, in this example a coil spring 127, is disposed between the end face of holder portion 125 facing lens 113 and the rear surface of lens 113, so as to always bias lens 113 toward opening 112b of housing 112, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

[0045] Therefore, in the normal state in which no pressing force is applied to the lens 113 side of the pickup unit 11, as shown in FIG. 3(A), the elastic force of the coil spring 127 presses the lens 113 against the step 112c of the opening 112b of the housing 112, so that the opening 112b of the housing 112 is blocked by the lens 113.

[0046] 3B, when the lens 113 side of the pickup unit 11 is pressed against the flat surface FL, the lens 113 is pressed into the inside of the housing 112 of the pickup unit 11 against the elastic force of the coil spring 127. Then, as the lens 113 slides into the inside of the housing 112 of the pickup unit 11, the case 126 moves in the axial direction and presses the presser 124a of the press detection switch 124. This causes the press detection switch 124 to change state from the OFF state to the ON state.

[0047] The control unit 116 of the pickup unit 11 detects that the pressure detection switch 124 has changed to the on state, and senses that the rear end of the pickup unit 11 has been pressed against the flat surface portion FL. Then, based on the detection of the on state of the pressure detection switch 124, the control unit 116 controls all of the multiple light-emitting elements 121 to change from an off state to a lit state.

[0048] In this case, when the rear end of the pickup unit 11 is pressed against the flat surface FL with the axial direction of the pickup unit 11 perpendicular to the flat surface FL, the circumferential tip of the opening 112b of the pickup unit 11 on the lens 113 side comes into close contact with the flat surface FL, blocking the entry of external light into the opening 112b of the pickup unit 11. Therefore, only the light emitted from the multiple light-emitting elements 121 is irradiated from the opening 112b at the rear end of the pickup unit 11 to the flat surface FL through the lens 113. That is, the light emitted from the multiple light-emitting elements 121 is irradiated to the part of the flat surface FL corresponding to the opening 112b at the rear end of the pickup unit 11. As a result, reflected light according to the color of the part of the flat surface FL is incident on the light-receiving unit 122 through the lens 113.

[0049] In addition, by constructing the housing 112 of the pickup unit 11 from an elastic body such as resin or rubber that can be elastically deformed, when the rear end of the pickup unit 11 is pressed against the flat surface FL, it is possible to increase the degree of contact between the circumferential tip of the opening 112b on the lens 113 side of the pickup unit 11 and the flat surface FL. Alternatively, an elastic ring that fits around the outer periphery of the lens 113 and protrudes in the axial direction of the housing 112 beyond the lens 113 may be provided in the opening 112b.

[0050] In this example, the light receiving unit 122 receives the incident light by dividing it into a red light component, a green light component, and a blue light component as described above, and outputs a light receiving output according to the light receiving level of each component to the color detection circuit 123. The color detection circuit 123 generates color information of the L*a*b* color system from the light receiving output from the light receiving unit 122 as described above. The color information generated by the color detection circuit 123 is stored in the memory 119 under the control of the control unit 116. Then, the control unit 116 transmits the color information stored in the memory 119 to the electronic device 2 through the wireless communication unit 118. When the control unit 116 confirms the completion of the transmission of the color information (completion of reception by the electronic device 2) through communication with the electronic device 2 through the wireless communication unit 118, it stops the transmission and erases the color information stored in the memory 119.

[0051] In addition, when the rear end of the pickup unit 11 is pressed against the flat surface FL to pick up the color of the pressed part, it is preferable to block the intrusion of external light into the opening 112b of the pickup unit 11 as much as possible in order to pick up the color accurately. However, when the rear end of the pickup unit 11 is pressed against the flat surface FL, it is acceptable if the axial direction is slightly shifted from the perpendicular state to the flat surface FL and some external light enters from the opening 112a of the pickup unit 11. As will be described later, when performing authentication using color information, the possibility of authentication is determined by matching the registered color information (information for authentication reference) with the picked-up color information (information to be authenticated), but by changing the threshold value for determining that the information matches, it is possible to determine that the color information of both is the same even if there is a slight difference.

[0052] <Example of configuration of electronic device 2> As shown in FIG. 5, in this example, the electronic device 2 is equipped with a position detection processing unit 21 that interacts with the electronic pen main body 10 by electrostatic coupling and includes a position detection sensor 210 for detecting a position indication input indicated by the pen tip portion 10a of the electronic pen main body 10, and an information processing unit 20 that performs various information processing.

[0053] The position detection processing unit 21 of the electronic device 2 receives a position detection signal from the electronic pen body 10 via the position detection sensor 210 and detects the position on the position detection sensor 210 indicated by the pen tip 10a of the electronic pen body 10.

[0054] The position detection sensor 210 is formed by stacking a first conductor group and a second conductor group with an insulating layer interposed therebetween. The first conductor group includes a plurality of first conductors 211Y1, 211Y2, ..., 211Y3 extending in the horizontal direction (X-axis direction). m (m is an integer of 1 or more) are arranged in parallel in the Y-axis direction at a predetermined distance from each other. m In this example, a plurality of second conductors 212X1, 212X2, ..., 212X extend in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the first conductor 212, i.e., in a vertical direction (Y-axis direction) perpendicular to the extending direction of the second conductor 212. n (n is an integer of 1 or more) are arranged in parallel along the X-axis at a predetermined distance from each other.

[0055] A selection circuit 221 serving as an input / output interface is provided between the position detection sensor 210 and the position detection control circuit 227 of the position detection processing unit 21. The selection circuit 221 is controlled based on a control signal from the position detection control circuit 227 to select one conductor from each of the first and second conductor groups, in this example.

[0056] A transmission signal from the electronic pen 1 is input to the position detection processing unit 21 from the conductor of the position detection sensor 210 selected by the selection circuit 221 in response to a control signal from the position detection control circuit 227. In the position detection processing unit 21, the transmission signal from the electronic pen 1, which is a modulated sine wave signal, is amplified by the amplifier circuit 222 and supplied to the band pass filter 223, where only the frequency component of the sine wave signal is extracted.

[0057] The output signal of the bandpass filter 223 is detected by a detection circuit 224, and the detection output signal is sampled and held at a predetermined timing by a sample-and-hold circuit 225 in response to a sampling signal from a position detection control circuit 227, and then converted into a digital value by an AD conversion circuit 226. The digital data from the AD conversion circuit 226 is supplied to the position detection control circuit 227. The position detection control circuit 227 calculates, from this digital data, the position coordinates on the position detection sensor 210 designated by the electronic pen 1.

[0058] Moreover, writing pressure information detected by writing pressure detection unit 104 is transmitted from electronic pen 1 to position detection sensor 210 in a time-division multiplexed manner with respect to the position detection signal. Position detection control circuit 227 of position detection processing unit 21 detects a writing pressure value from this writing pressure information. Then, position detection control circuit 227 supplies information on the position coordinates on position detection sensor 210 designated by detected electronic pen 1 and the writing pressure value to information processing control unit 200 of information processing unit 20.

[0059] In this example, the information processing unit 20 is configured by connecting, to the information processing control unit 200, an application memory unit 201 that stores one or more application programs, a data memory unit 202 that stores files and folders of documents consisting of letters, symbols, numbers, etc. input by the electronic pen 1 to the position detection sensor 210, and files and folders of drawing information such as figures and pictures drawn on the position detection sensor 210 by the electronic pen 1, a display unit 203, a wireless communication unit 204, an authentication reference information memory unit 205, and a writing color information memory unit 206.

[0060] In this example, the display unit 203 is configured with an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). The wireless communication unit 204 is configured with a part capable of communicating with the wireless communication unit 118 of the pickup unit 11 of the electronic pen 1, and in this example, is configured with a wireless communication unit of the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard.

[0061] As described later, the authentication reference information storage unit 205 stores authentication reference information in which color information is associated with an authentication target in advance, and is provided with a buffer area for storing color information sent from the electronic pen 1 when an authentication request is made, for comparison with the authentication reference information. Here, the authentication reference information refers to information that is registered in advance and is referenced when performing authentication processing to compare with the information to be authenticated and determine whether or not it matches.

[0062] The writing color information storage unit 206 stores information on the writing color when handwriting input is performed by the electronic pen 1 at the position detection sensor 210 of the electronic device 2. In this embodiment, as will be described later, color information sent from the electronic pen 1 is stored as writing color information.

[0063] In this example, the information processing control unit 200 is configured with a microprocessor made up of an IC (Integrated Circuit). In this embodiment, the information processing control unit 200 includes a registration processing unit 2001 for authentication reference information, an authentication possibility determination unit 2002, a display control unit 2003, and other functional units, and is configured to execute each functional unit using an application program stored in the application storage unit 201.

[0064] The registration processing unit 2001 performs processing to specify, from among the application storage unit 201, an application program that requires authentication processing that is made available only when authentication is successful, register authentication reference information for the authentication processing, and store the information in the authentication reference information storage unit 205. In this example, the authentication reference information uses the color information described above.

[0065] The authentication possibility determination unit 2002 performs a process of determining whether or not authentication is possible by comparing the registered authentication reference information with the color information sent from the electronic pen 1. When the degree of match between the color information of the registered authentication reference information and the color information of the information to be authenticated sent from the electronic pen 1 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, it determines that authentication has been successful (authentication OK), and when the degree of match does not meet the predetermined threshold, it determines that authentication has not been successful (authentication NG).

[0066] In this case, the degree of match between the color information of the registered authentication reference information and the color information of the information to be authenticated sent from the electronic pen 1 is determined by calculating the difference between the two color information, and if the difference is equal to or less than a threshold, the authentication is deemed OK, and if the difference exceeds the threshold, the authentication is deemed NG. The value of this threshold is determined taking into consideration that the color may change slightly depending on the external environment such as the time, place, and temperature at which the color is detected, and on the usage status of the pickup unit 11.

[0067] Also, when picking up each color information, the colors are not necessarily taken from the same object. For example, if a user recognizes a white part of a flat surface of an object in a certain place as "white" and picks it up with the pickup unit 11 to register it as authentication reference information, when "white" as authentication information is picked up by the pickup unit 11 from a white part of a flat surface of another place or another object, the two are not necessarily exactly the same "white". For this reason, the threshold value is set so that a match can be determined if it is within a predetermined similarity range, rather than a physical match.

[0068] The threshold setting can also be used to determine the strength of security. In other words, to make security strict (strong), the threshold is selected so that the difference between the color information of the registered authentication reference information and the color information of the information to be authenticated is between 0 and a very small value, and when security is to be made relatively weak, the threshold is selected so that the difference is somewhat large. In other words, when the range of color matching is narrow, only colors that are close to a perfect match are recognized, making it possible to make a system with strong and robust security. On the other hand, when the range of color matching is wide, it is possible to make a system with weak security.

[0069] Based on the authentication judgment result of the authentication feasibility judgment unit 2002, the information processing control unit 200 controls the control operation as the authentication subject associated with the authentication reference information, i.e., controls whether or not to launch an application program, and controls whether or not to open a file or folder and allow the use of the data.

[0070] The display control unit 2003 executes the display function of each application program, and controls the display unit 203 so that a display image is displayed on the display screen 203D (see FIG. 1).

[0071] In this embodiment, for handwriting input on the position detection sensor 210 of the electronic device 2 by the electronic pen 1, the handwriting of the pen tip of the electronic pen 1 is displayed in color using color information stored in the handwriting color information storage unit 206. As described later, in this embodiment, the electronic device 2 is configured so that a user can request the electronic device 2 to register a writing color, pick up the color using the pickup unit 11 of the electronic pen 1, and transmit the color information to the electronic device 2. In response to the request to register the writing color, the electronic device 2 stores the color information received from the pickup unit 11 of the electronic pen 1 in the handwriting color information storage unit 206, and uses the color information as a display color for subsequent handwriting input on the position detection sensor 210 by the electronic pen 1.

[0072] [Processing operations related to authentication and writing color by electronic pen 1 and electronic device 2] Next, an example of the flow of processing operations related to authentication by the electronic pen 1 and the electronic device 2 and the flow of processing operations related to the display color (writing color) of handwriting input on the position detection sensor 210 by the electronic pen 1 will be described.

[0073] <Description of Color Information Pickup Operation by Pickup Unit 11 of Electronic Pen 1> First, an example of the flow of an operation for acquiring color information in pickup unit 11 of electronic pen 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 6. Note that the operation of each step in Fig. 6 will be described as being executed by control unit 116 of pickup unit 11.

[0074] When picking up color information, the user holds the electronic pen 1 with the pen tip 10a side facing up, as shown in the upper center of Fig. 5, and presses the rear end side of the pickup unit 11 against the part of the flat portion FL that exhibits the color that the user wants to pick up, such as white, red, green, or blue. At this time, the user presses the rear end side of the pickup unit 11 against the flat portion FL so that the axial direction of the housing 101 of the electronic pen 1 is perpendicular to the flat portion FL.

[0075] 3(B), in pickup unit 11 of electronic pen 1, lens 113 at the rear end of pickup unit 11 is pushed inward against the elastic force of coil spring 127, and the end face of opening 112b at the rear end of housing 112 of pickup unit 11 is pressed against flat portion FL, preventing external light from entering opening 112b. Then, as lens 113 is pushed inward against the elastic force of coil spring 127, press detection switch 124 changes from an OFF state to an ON state, and pickup unit 11 starts picking up color information.

[0076] 6, the control unit 116 of the pickup unit 11 of the electronic pen 1 monitors whether the pressure detection switch 124 has been changed to the ON state (step S1). If it is determined in step S1 that the pressure detection switch 124 has been changed to the ON state, the control unit 116 controls the power supply circuit 117 to supply a power supply voltage to all circuit parts in the pickup unit 11 (step S2), lights up all of the multiple LEDs 121, and sets the light receiving unit 122 and the color detection circuit 123 to an operable state (step S3).

[0077] Then, as described above, emitted light from the multiple LEDs 121 is irradiated onto the flat portion FL corresponding to the opening 112b at the rear end of the pickup unit 11, and the reflected light is received by the light receiving unit 122 through the lens 113. As described above, in this embodiment, the light receiving unit 122 receives the reflected light separately into a red light component, a green light component, and a blue light component, and outputs a received light output according to the received light level of each component to the color detection circuit 123. The color detection circuit 123 generates color information in the L*a*b* color system in this embodiment from the received light output from the light receiving unit 122.

[0078] Therefore, after step S3, the control unit 116 takes in the color information generated by the color detection circuit 123 (step S4) and temporarily stores it in the memory 119 (step S5). Then, the control unit 116 transmits the color information temporarily stored in the memory 119 to the electronic device 2 via the wireless communication unit 118 (step S6).

[0079] The user presses the pickup unit 11 against the flat portion FL for a predetermined time, for example, several seconds to several tens of seconds, and then releases the action of pressing the pickup unit 11 against the flat portion FL. The predetermined time at this time is a time that allows the pickup unit 11 to pick up color information from the flat portion FL and transmit it to the electronic device 2, and is, for example, several seconds or more. Note that a status notification display element, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode), may be provided on the housing 112 of the pickup unit 11 so that the user can confirm whether the light-emitting element 121 is on or off, and the status notification light-emitting element may be turned on when the transmission of color information from the wireless communication unit 118 is completed.

[0080] When the user releases the action of pressing the pickup portion 11 of the electronic pen 1 against the flat portion FL, the press detection switch 124 changes from the ON state to the OFF state.

[0081] Control unit 116 of pickup unit 11 of electronic pen 1 monitors whether pressure detection switch 124 changes from on to off (step S7), and when it determines that pressure detection switch 124 has changed from on to off, erases the color information stored in memory 119 (step S8) and returns the supply of power voltage from power supply circuit 117 to each circuit to a standby state (step S9). After step S9, control unit 116 returns the process to step S1 and repeats the processes from step S1 onwards.

[0082] In order to erase the color information stored in memory 119 in step S8, memory 119 may be configured as a volatile memory and the supply of power supply voltage to the memory from power supply circuit 117 may be stopped. If memory 119 is configured as a non-volatile memory, it goes without saying that control unit 116 erases the color information.

[0083] <Example of operation of electronic device 2> Next, we will explain an example of the operation of using the color information picked up by the pickup unit 11 of the electronic pen 1 as authentication information in the electronic device 2 to authenticate the authentication target, as well as the operation of using it as a writing color and displaying it on the display screen.

[0084] In the electronic device 2 of this embodiment, the user preregisters color information to be used for authentication for each object to be authenticated using color information. The registered color information becomes authentication reference information when determining whether or not to authenticate the object.

[0085] For example, as shown in Fig. 7, the launch of each of application programs A, B, and C is registered as an authentication target, and different color information Ca, Cb, and Cc is registered for each authentication target, and the opening of each of files D and E and folder F is registered as an authentication target, and different color information Cd, Ce, and Cf is registered for each authentication target. Correspondence information (correspondence table information) between the authentication targets and authentication reference information in the example of Fig. 7 is stored and held in authentication reference information storage unit 205 shown in Fig. 5.

[0086] Needless to say, the authentication target is not limited to the example shown in Fig. 7. For example, the authentication target may be the start of operation when the electronic device 2 is turned on, and when authentication based on color information is successful, the operation of the electronic device 2 may be started.

[0087] In the example of FIG. 7, the color information registered as authentication reference information is shown as being different for each authentication object, but it goes without saying that color information obtained by picking up the same color may also be used even if the authentication object is different.

[0088] When the registration of the authentication reference information for the authentication target is completed in this way, the electronic device 2 can start executing the security function for the authentication target. In authenticating this security function, the electronic device 2 identifies the authentication target, compares color information, which is authentication reference information associated with the identified authentication target and stored in the authentication reference information storage unit 205, with color information as information to be authenticated sent from the pickup unit 11 of the electronic pen 1 at the time of authentication (when the security function is executed), and judges whether or not authentication is possible based on the comparison and matching result. Then, only when the authentication target is an application program, it can be started, and when the authentication target is a file or folder, it can be opened and data can be used. Also, when the authentication target is, for example, an operation start at the time of powering on the electronic device 2, when authentication based on color information is OK, the electronic device 2 can start operating.

[0089] When executing a security function (authentication), the user operates the pickup unit 11 of the electronic pen 1 to pick up color information as information to be authenticated, which is compared with authentication reference information to determine whether authentication is possible. In response to this operation by the user, the pickup unit 11 of the electronic pen 1 picks up the color information and transmits it to the electronic device 2. The electronic device 2 then executes authentication processing for security purposes, determines whether authentication is possible, and determines whether the authentication target can be used depending on the result of the determination.

[0090] Moreover, the electronic device 2 of this embodiment is configured to have a function of registering a writing color. That is, when registering a writing color, color information picked up by the pickup unit 11 of the electronic pen 1 and wirelessly transmitted is acquired and stored in the writing color information storage unit 206. Then, the writing trace by handwriting input on the position detection sensor 210 by the electronic pen 1 is displayed in color on the display screen of the display unit 203 using the color information stored in the writing color information storage unit 206. Note that the writing trace by handwriting input in this case includes not only line drawings such as characters and figures, but also drawing traces by a paintbrush or brush when the type of the pen tip of the electronic pen 1 can be specified by the electronic device 2.

[0091] An example of the flow of operations in the electronic device 2 described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts of Figures 8 to 10. Note that the process of each step in Figures 8 to 10 will be described as being executed by the information processing control unit 200 of the electronic device 2.

[0092] The information processing control unit 200 first determines whether or not a processing event based on an input operation by a user has occurred (step S11). If it is determined in step S11 that a processing event has occurred, the information processing control unit 200 first determines whether or not the processing event is "authentication registration" (step S12).

[0093] If it is determined in step S12 that the event is "authentication registration", the information processing control unit 200 identifies the authentication target based on the occurrence status of the processing event in step S11 (step S13). In step S13, if the processing event determined in step S11 includes an instruction meaning, for example, registration of authentication reference information for starting an application program specified in the processing event or currently being executed, the authentication target is the start of the application program. Also, if the processing event includes an instruction meaning registration of authentication reference information for opening a file or folder, the authentication target is the opening of the file or folder.

[0094] Next, the information processing control unit 200 holds the information of the authentication target identified in step S13, and prompts the user to pick up color information as authentication reference information (step S14).

[0095] In response to the prompt in step S14, the user presses the rear end side of the pickup unit 11 of the electronic pen 1 against the flat portion FL exhibiting the color that the user wishes to use as authentication reference information, as described above with reference to Fig. 6. Then, as described above, the pickup unit 11 of the electronic pen 1 wirelessly transmits color information, and the electronic device 2 receives the color information via the wireless communication unit 204.

[0096] After prompting the user to pick up color information in step S14, the information processing control unit 200 of the electronic device 2 waits for the reception of color information picked up by the user in response to the prompt (step S15). If it is determined in step S15 that the reception of color information has been confirmed, the information processing control unit 200 stores the authentication target information identified in step S13 and the received color information as table information associated with each other as shown in Fig. 7 in the authentication reference information storage unit 205 (step S16). Then, the information processing control unit 200 returns the process to step S11 and repeats the processes from step S11 onwards.

[0097] When it is determined in step S12 that the occurring processing event is not "authentication registration", the information processing control unit 200 determines whether the occurring processing event requests "authentication" (step S17). In this step S17, it is determined whether the processing event determined in step S11 is related to an authentication target stored in the authentication reference information storage unit 205 and requires authentication.

[0098] If it is determined in step S17 that “authentication” is requested, the information processing control unit 200 identifies the authentication target based on the processing event that occurred in step S11 and the stored information in the authentication reference information storage unit 205 (step S21 in FIG. 9).

[0099] Then, the information processing control unit 200 holds the information of the identified authentication target, and prompts the user to pick up color information as authentication target information for performing authentication (step S22).

[0100] In response to the prompt in step S22, the user presses the rear end side of the pickup unit 11 of the electronic pen 1 against the flat portion FL exhibiting the same color as the registered color in order to obtain information of the same color as the color information registered for the authentication target designated by the user, as described above with reference to Fig. 6. Then, as described above, the pickup unit 11 of the electronic pen 1 wirelessly transmits color information, and the electronic device 2 receives the color information as authentication information via the wireless communication unit 204.

[0101] That is, after prompting the user to pick up color information in step S22, the information processing control unit 200 of the electronic device 2 waits for reception of the color information picked up by the user in response to the prompt (step S23). If it is determined in step S23 that the reception of the color information has been confirmed, the information processing control unit 200 compares the color information received in step S23 as the information to be authenticated with the color information of the authentication reference information stored in the authentication reference information storage unit 205 in association with the authentication target identified in step S21 (step S24), and determines whether the authentication is OK (step S25).

[0102] In steps S24 and S25, whether authentication is possible is determined based on whether the color information stored in authentication reference information storage unit 205 matches the color information received in step S23. That is, as described above, the difference between the color information of the authentication reference information and the color information of the information to be authenticated is calculated, and if the difference is equal to or less than a threshold, authentication is determined to be OK, and if the difference exceeds the threshold, authentication is determined to be NG.

[0103] If it is determined in step S25 that the authentication is not OK but NG, the information processing control unit 200 notifies the user by displaying NG authentication on the display screen of the display unit 203 and emitting an alarm sound (step S26). After step S26, the information processing control unit 200 inquires of the user as to whether or not to perform the authentication again and determines the user's response (step S27). If it is determined in step S27 that the user responds that the authentication will be performed again, the information processing control unit 200 returns the process to step S22 and repeats the processes from step S22 onward. If it is determined in step S27 that the user responds that the authentication will not be performed again, the information processing control unit 200 returns the process to step S11 in FIG. 8 and repeats the processes from step S11 onward.

[0104] Furthermore, if it is determined in step S25 that the authentication is OK, the information processing control unit 200 releases security protection and permits the authentication target (step S28). What is permitted in step S28 is the launch of the application program that is the authentication target, and the opening of the file or folder that is the authentication target. Then, the information processing control unit 200 returns the process to step S11 in Fig. 8, and repeats the processes from step S11 onwards.

[0105] Next, when it is determined in step S17 of Fig. 8 that the processing event does not require "authentication", the information processing control unit 200 determines whether the processing event is "registering writing color" or not (step S31 of Fig. 10). This determination in step S31 is made based on whether the processing event generated in step S11 is a processing event based on, for example, clicking on the "registering writing color" icon displayed on the display screen of the electronic device 2 while the user is writing on the position detection sensor 210 of the electronic device 2 using, for example, the electronic pen 1.

[0106] If it is determined in step S31 that the event is not "registering a writing color," the information processing control unit 200 executes other processing for the processing event (step S32), and then returns the processing to step S11 in FIG. 8, and repeats the processing from step S11 onward.

[0107] When it is determined in step S31 that the processing event is "registering a handwriting color", the information processing control unit 200 prompts the user to pick up color information as handwriting color information (step S33).

[0108] In response to the prompt in step S33, the user presses the rear end side of the pickup unit 11 of the electronic pen 1 against the flat portion FL exhibiting the color that the user wishes to use as authentication reference information, as described with reference to Fig. 6. Then, as described above, the pickup unit 11 of the electronic pen 1 wirelessly transmits color information, and the electronic device 2 receives the color information via the wireless communication unit 204.

[0109] After prompting the user to pick up color information in step S33, the information processing control unit 200 of the electronic device 2 monitors the receipt of color information picked up by the user in response to the prompt (step S34), and when it determines that color information has been received, stores the received color information as handwriting color information in the handwriting color information storage unit 206 (step S35).

[0110] In this embodiment, after the writing color information is stored in the writing color information storage unit 206 in step S35, the electronic device 2 is configured to be able to receive the writing force from the electronic pen 1 through the position detection sensor 210. Then, the user changes the state of the electronic pen 1 from the state shown in the center of Fig. 5 in which the rear end of the pickup unit 11 is pressed against the flat surface portion FL to the state shown on the left side thereof in which the pen tip is brought close to or into contact with the input area of ​​the position detection sensor 210 of the electronic device 2 for writing input.

[0111] After step S35, the information processing control unit 200 determines whether or not handwriting input by the electronic pen 1 has been detected (step S36) based on whether or not a signal of a predetermined level or higher has been received from the electronic pen 1 via the position detection sensor 210, and monitors the handwriting input. Then, when it is determined in step S36 that handwriting input has been detected, the information processing control unit 200 stores coordinate information of the path of the detected handwriting input (step S37), and displays the path of the handwriting input in color on the display screen of the display unit 203 using color information (handwriting color information) stored in the handwriting color information storage unit 206 (step S38).

[0112] Next, the information processing control unit 200 determines whether or not the user has requested to change the writing color (step S39), and if it has determined that the user has requested to change the writing color, returns the process to step S33 and repeats the process from step S33 onwards. If it has determined in step S39 that the user has not requested to change the writing color, the information processing control unit 200 determines whether or not handwriting input has ended (step S40), and if it has determined that handwriting input has not ended, returns the process to step S36 and repeats the process from step S36 onwards. If it has determined in step S40 that handwriting input has ended, the information processing control unit 200 erases the information on the writing color stored in the handwriting color information storage unit 206 (step S41), and then returns the process to step S11 in Fig. 8, and repeats the process from step S11 onwards.

[0113] As described above, according to the electronic pen of the first embodiment, it is possible to perform authentication of an object to be authenticated by using color information picked up by the pickup unit 11 coupled to the electronic pen body 10. In this case, the user only needs to press the rear end of the pickup unit 11 coupled to the rear end side of the electronic pen body 10 against a flat surface exhibiting a color to be used for authentication, which is easy to use.

[0114] Since the color information picked up by the pickup unit 11 is used for authentication, the user only needs to remember the color used for authentication. This reduces the risk of forgetting the authentication information compared to when a multi-digit number, symbol, etc. is used for authentication. In addition, the user only needs to press the rear end of the pickup unit 11 against the flat surface that exhibits the color used for authentication to input the authentication information, which has the advantage that input errors, such as those that occur when inputting a multi-digit number, symbol, etc., are unlikely to occur and the input operation is easy.

[0115] In the above-described first embodiment, the color information picked up by the pickup unit 11 can be used as the display color of the handwriting input by the electronic pen 1 in the position detection sensor 210. In this case, the color information picked up by the pickup unit 11 can be used as the display color of the handwriting, so that the handwriting can be displayed in a color intended by the user, which is convenient. Note that the color information stored in the handwriting color information storage unit 206 may be stored in association with the coordinate information of the handwriting input stored in the electronic device 2.

[0116] In the above embodiment, the color information transmitted from the pickup unit 11 of the electronic pen 1 is differentiated into color information for authentication reference, color information for being authenticated, and color information for writing color by changing the storage unit. However, it is of course possible to add an indicator for identifying each of the information for authentication reference, information for being authenticated, and writing color as additional information and store each color information.

[0117] In the above description of the first embodiment, the color information picked up by the pickup unit 11 is transmitted to the electronic device 2 from the wireless communication unit 118 provided in the pickup unit 11. However, instead of providing the wireless communication unit 118 in the pickup unit 11, a wireless communication unit may be provided in the electronic pen main body unit 10, and the control unit 103 of the electronic pen main body unit 10 may obtain the color information from the pickup unit 11 via the USB interface 107 and transmit the information using the wireless communication unit provided in the electronic pen main body unit 10.

[0118] In addition, the pickup unit 11 may not be provided with a wireless communication unit 118, and the control unit 103 of the electronic pen main body unit 10 may acquire color information from the pickup unit 11 via the USB interface 107, include it in a signal sent through the core body 105, and supply it to the position detection sensor 210, and transmit it to the electronic device 2 through interaction between the electronic pen main body unit 10 and the position detection sensor 210.

[0119] In the above description of the first embodiment, the pickup unit 11 is configured to be connected to the electronic pen body 10 of the electronic pen 1 via USB and to receive the power supply voltage from the electronic pen body 10. However, a battery (which may be a primary battery or a secondary battery) may be provided inside the housing 112 of the pickup unit 11. In that case, in a configuration in which color information is transmitted to the electronic device 2 through the wireless communication unit 118 of the pickup unit 11, the pickup unit 11 and the electronic pen body 10 do not need to be electrically connected, and it is sufficient if they can be simply coupled together. When the pickup unit 11 picks up color information, the pickup unit 11 can be removed from the electronic pen body 10 and pressed against the flat surface portion FL to perform the pickup operation.

[0120] [Modifications of the pickup unit of the above embodiment] In the pickup unit of the above embodiment, the lens is pushed and moved when the rear end of the pickup unit is pressed against a flat surface, and the pressure detection switch detects the pressure caused by the movement of the lens to activate the pickup unit. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration.

[0121] For example, a skirt made of an elastic material such as silicone rubber is provided at the rear end of the pickup unit so as to protrude from the periphery of the lens outward in the axial direction of the pickup unit, and when the rear end of the pickup unit is pressed against a flat surface, the end of the skirt and the flat surface come into close contact with each other, so that the portion surrounded by the skirt is blocked from external light, and a phototransistor is configured to detect the presence or absence of external light. In this way, when the rear end of the pickup unit is pressed against the flat surface, the phototransistor can detect that the portion surrounded by the skirt is blocked from external light, so that the pickup unit may be activated and an LED may be turned on based on the detection output of the phototransistor.

[0122] In addition, a contact sensor that detects contact with the flat portion and a pressure sensor that detects the pressing force from the flat portion may be provided in the housing portion at the rear end of the pickup unit, and the pickup unit may be activated based on the detection output of the contact sensor and pressure sensor to light up the LED.

[0123] [Second embodiment] In the first embodiment described above, only color information is used as authentication information. In the second embodiment, the authentication system is configured with the electronic pen and electronic device described in the first embodiment using Fig. 1, but the authentication reference information is not only color information but also identification information of the electronic pen (hereinafter referred to as pen ID information), thereby enhancing security.

[0124] The authentication system of this second embodiment comprises an electronic pen 1A which differs from the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment in that it includes a storage section for pen ID information, and an electronic device 2A which has a different configuration of processing functions related to authentication processing from the electronic device 2 of the first embodiment.

[0125] The electronic pen 1A of the second embodiment comprises an electronic pen main body 10A (see FIG. 11) and a pickup unit 11A (not shown). As shown in FIG. 11, the hardware configuration of the electronic pen main body 10A of the electronic pen 1A of the second embodiment is different from that of the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment in that the electronic pen main body 10A includes a control unit 103A whose control processing contents are different from those of the control unit 103, and that a pen ID memory 108 is connected to the control unit 103A. The pen ID memory 108 stores pen ID information for identifying each electronic pen 1A.

[0126] Other configurations of the electronic pen body 10A are similar to those of the electronic pen body 10 of the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment shown in Fig. 5. In Fig. 11, the same parts as those of the electronic pen body 10 of the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0127] The pickup unit 11A of the electronic pen 1A of this second embodiment, although not shown in the figure, has a hardware configuration similar to that of the pickup unit 11 of the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment described using Figures 3 and 4, except that it has a control unit 116A (not shown) whose control content is different from that of the control unit 116 of the pickup unit 11 of the electronic pen 1 of the first embodiment.

[0128] The hardware configuration of the electronic device 2A of the second embodiment includes an information processing control unit 200A (not shown) whose control processing contents are different from the information processing control unit 200 of the electronic device 2 of the first embodiment shown in Fig. 5, and an authentication reference information storage unit 205A (not shown) whose authentication reference information is different from that stored in the authentication reference information storage unit 205 of the electronic device 2 of the first embodiment. Also, the electronic device 2A of the second embodiment includes a writing color information storage unit 206A (not shown) whose writing color information is different from that stored in the writing color information storage unit 206. The other configurations of the electronic device 2A of the second embodiment are similar to those of the electronic device 2 of the first embodiment.

[0129] In the second embodiment, when the pickup unit 11A of the electronic pen 1A presses the rear end of the pickup unit 11A against the flat surface portion FL to pick up color information, the pickup unit 11A performs the operation of picking up the color information in the same manner as the pickup unit 11 of the first embodiment. However, the control unit 116A of the pickup unit 11A of the second embodiment does not immediately transmit the picked up color information to the electronic device 2A, but temporarily holds the information and transmits a request to obtain pen ID information to the electronic pen body 10A via the USB interface 115 and the USB connector plug 111.

[0130] When the control unit 103A of the electronic pen main body 10A of the electronic pen 1A receives a request to obtain pen ID information from the pickup unit 11A via the USB connector jack 106 and the USB interface 107, the control unit 103A transmits the pen ID information read from the pen ID memory 108 to the pickup unit 11A via the USB interface 107 and the USB connector jack 106.

[0131] In this second embodiment, when the control unit 116A of the pickup unit 11A acquires the pen ID information from the electronic pen main body unit 10A, it transmits the retained color information and the acquired pen ID information to the electronic device 2 via the wireless communication unit 118.

[0132] An example of the operational flow of the electronic pen 1A and the operational flow of the electronic device 2A in the second embodiment will be further described with reference to flowcharts.

[0133] <Description of Color Information Pickup Operation by Pickup Unit 11A of Electronic Pen 1A> First, an example of the flow of the operation of acquiring color information in pickup unit 11A of electronic pen 1A will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 12. Note that the operation of each step in Fig. 6 will be described as being executed by control unit 116A (not shown) of pickup unit 11A.

[0134] In the electronic pen 1A of the second embodiment, the operations from step S51 to step S55 in Fig. 12 are the same as the operations from step S1 to step S5 in Fig. 6. That is, when the user presses the rear end side of the pickup unit 11A against the part of the flat surface FL exhibiting the color that the user wants to pick up with the electronic pen 1A in a state in which the pen tip portion 10a side is facing up, the pressure detection switch 124 changes from an OFF state to an ON state (step S51), power is supplied to each part of the pickup unit 11A (step S52), the LED 121 is turned on (step S53), the color information is acquired (step S54), and the acquired color information is temporarily stored in the memory 119 (step S55).

[0135] In the pickup section 11A of the electronic pen 1A of this second embodiment, after step S55, the control section 116A sends a request to obtain pen ID information to the electronic pen main body section 10A via the USB interface 115, and in response thereto, obtains the pen ID information sent from the electronic pen main body section 10A via the USB interface 115 (step S56).

[0136] Next, the control unit 116A transmits the color information temporarily stored in the memory 119 and the pen ID information acquired from the electronic pen body 10A to the electronic device 2 via the wireless communication unit 118 (step S57).

[0137] Then, control unit 116A of pickup unit 11A of electronic pen 1A monitors whether pressure detection switch 124 changes from on to off when the user releases the state in which the rear end side of electronic pen 1A is pressed against flat portion FL (step S58), and when it determines that pressure detection switch 124 has changed from on to off, it erases the color information stored in memory 119 (step S59) and returns the supply state of power supply voltage from power supply circuit 117 to each circuit to a standby state (step S60). After step S60, control unit 116A returns the process to step S51 and repeats the processes from step S51 onwards.

[0138] <Example of operation in electronic device 2A> In the electronic device 2A of this second embodiment, when the authentication object and authentication reference information are registered, the registered color information and pen ID information for each registered authentication object become the authentication reference information for determining whether or not the authentication object can be authenticated.

[0139] 13, for example, in the second embodiment, the launch of each of application programs A, B, and C is registered as an authentication target, and different color information Ca, Cb, and Cc is associated with pen ID information IDa, IDb, and IDc for each authentication target, and the opening of each of files D and E is registered as an authentication target, and different color information Cd and Ce is associated with pen ID information IDd and IDe for each authentication target, and the opening of files D and E is registered as an authentication target, and different color information Cd and Ce is associated with pen ID information IDd and IDe for each authentication target, and the opening of files D and E is registered as an authentication target.

[0140] Correspondence information (correspondence table information) between authentication objects and authentication reference information in the example of Fig. 13 is stored and held in authentication reference information storage unit 205A, as in the first embodiment. In the example of Fig. 13, color information is shown as being different for each authentication object, but it goes without saying that color information obtained by picking up the same color may be used even if the authentication objects are different. Also, pen ID information is shown as being different for each authentication object, but the same pen ID information may be used even if the authentication objects are different, or the same pen ID information may be used for all authentication objects.

[0141] In the second embodiment, the information transmitted from the pickup unit 11A of the electronic pen 1A to the electronic device 2A is a pair of information on the picked-up color and pen ID information. The electronic device 2A stores the pair of information on the color and the pen ID information in the writing color information storage unit 206 as writing color information.

[0142] Furthermore, in this second embodiment, the control unit 103A of the electronic pen 1A controls the signal generating circuit 102 so that the signal sent from the core body 105 of the electronic pen main body 10A includes pen ID information. The pen ID information is included in the signal from the core body 105 by a multiplexing method such as time division multiplexing or frequency multiplexing for the position detection signal and the writing pressure information. Alternatively, as described above, the pen ID information may be digital information, such as a modulated signal such as an OOK signal or an ASK signal.

[0143] In the electronic device 2A, the information processing control unit 200A receives a signal transmitted from the core 105 of the electronic pen main body 10A of the electronic pen 1A, compares the pen ID information included in the signal with the pen ID information stored in the writing color information storage unit 206, and when the two match, displays the writing trace based on the writing input by the pen tip of the core of the electronic pen main body 10A of the electronic pen 1A in color using the color information stored in the writing color information storage unit 206. When the pen ID information added to the signal from the core 105 of the electronic pen main body 10A of the electronic pen 1A does not match the pen ID information stored in the writing color information storage unit 206, the information processing control unit 200A displays the writing trace based on the writing input by the pen tip of the core 105 of the electronic pen main body 10A of the electronic pen 1A in a default color, for example, black. This allows the handwriting to be displayed in the registered color only when handwriting is input using the electronic pen 1A for which the handwriting color information is registered.

[0144] An example of the flow of operations in the electronic device 2A of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of Figures 14 to 17. Note that the process of each step in Figures 14 to 17 will be described as being executed by the information processing control unit 200A of the electronic device 2A.

[0145] The processing from step S71 to step S74 in Fig. 14 is similar to the processing from step S11 to step S14 in Fig. 8 in the first embodiment, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted here. In this second embodiment, after the processing of prompting picking up color information in step S74, color information and pen ID information are sent from pickup unit 11A of electronic pen 1A, and therefore the processing from step S74 onwards differs from the first embodiment.

[0146] That is, the information processing control unit 200A of the electronic device 2A of the second embodiment monitors the reception of color information and pen ID information sent from the pickup unit 11A of the electronic pen 1A (step S75), and when it determines that color information and pen ID information have been received, it associates the received color information and pen ID information with the information of the authentication subject accepted in step S73 and stores it in the authentication reference information storage unit 205A, as shown in FIG. 13 (step S76).

[0147] After step S76, the information processing control unit 200A returns the process to step S71, and repeats the processes from step S71 onwards.

[0148] If the information processing control unit 200A determines in step S72 that the processing event that has occurred is not "authentication registration", it determines whether or not the processing event that has occurred requests "authentication" (step S77). If it determines in step S77 that "authentication" is requested, the information processing control unit 200A identifies the authentication target based on the processing event that has occurred in step S71 and the stored information in the authentication reference information storage unit 205A (step S81 in FIG. 15).

[0149] Then, the information processing control unit 200A holds the identified information on the authentication target, and prompts the user to pick up color information as information to be authenticated for performing authentication (step S82).

[0150] In response to the prompt in step S82, in this second embodiment, color information and pen ID information are sent from the pickup unit 11A of the electronic pen 1A, and the information processing control unit 200A monitors the reception of the color information and pen ID information (step S83), and when it determines that they have been received, compares the received color information and pen ID information with the color information and pen ID information stored in the authentication reference information storage unit 205 as authentication reference information (step S84).

[0151] In this example, the information processing control unit 200A first determines whether authentication based on the pen ID information is OK or not based on whether the pen ID information in the authentication reference information and the pen ID information in the authenticated information completely match (step S85).

[0152] If it is determined in step S85 that the pen ID information in the authentication reference information and the pen ID information in the information to be authenticated do not completely match and authentication is not OK, the information processing control unit 200A notifies the user by displaying "authentication NG" on the display screen of the display unit 203 and emitting an alarm sound (step S86).

[0153] After step S86, the information processing control unit 200 inquires of whether or not to perform the authentication again, and determines the response from the user (step S87). If it is determined in step S87 that the response received is that the authentication will be performed again, the information processing control unit 200A returns the process to step S82, and repeats the processes from step S82 onward. If it is determined in step S87 that the response received is that the authentication will not be performed again, the information processing control unit 200A returns the process to step S71 in Fig. 14, and repeats the processes from step S71 onward.

[0154] If it is determined in step S85 that the pen ID information in the authentication reference information and the pen ID information in the authenticated information are a perfect match and authentication is OK, the information processing control unit 200A determines whether authentication is OK based on whether the difference between the color information stored in the authentication reference information storage unit 205A and the color information received in step S84 is equal to or less than a threshold (step S88). If it is determined in step S88 that the difference between the color information in the authentication reference information and the color information in the authenticated information exceeds the threshold and authentication is not OK, the information processing control unit 200A moves the process to step S86, notifies the user that authentication is NG by displaying on the display screen of the display unit 203 and emitting an alarm sound, and then executes the processes in and after step S87.

[0155] Furthermore, when it is determined in step S88 that the difference between the color information of the authentication reference information and the color information of the information to be authenticated is equal to or less than the threshold and authentication is OK, that is, when it is determined that authentication based on the pen ID information is OK and authentication based on the color information is OK, the information processing control unit 200A permits the authentication target (step S89).Then, the information processing control unit 200A returns the process to step S71 in Fig. 14 and repeats the processes from step S71 onwards.

[0156] Next, when it is determined in step S77 of Fig. 14 that the processing event does not require "authentication", the information processing control unit 200A determines whether the processing event is "registering a writing color" (step S91 of Fig. 16). The processing from step S91 to step S93 of Fig. 16 is similar to the processing from step S31 to step S33 of Fig. 10 in the first embodiment, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted here.

[0157] In this second embodiment, in response to the prompt to pick up color information in step S93, when the user presses the rear end portion of the pickup portion 11A of the electronic pen 1A against the flat portion FL to pick up the color information, the pickup portion 11A wirelessly transmits the picked up color information and pen ID information, as described above.

[0158] Therefore, in the second embodiment, after step S93, the information processing control unit 200A of the electronic device 2A monitors the reception of color information and pen ID information from the pickup unit 11A of the electronic pen 1A (step S94), and when it determines that the color information and pen ID information have been received, stores the received color information and pen ID information as writing color information in the writing color information storage unit 206A (step S95).

[0159] In the second embodiment as well, after the writing color information is stored in the writing color information storage unit 206A in step S95, the electronic device 2A is configured to be able to receive the writing force from the electronic pen 1A through the position detection sensor 210. However, in the second embodiment, as described above, the signal from the core 105 of the electronic pen main body 10A of the electronic pen 1A includes pen ID information in addition to the position detection signal and writing pressure detection information.

[0160] After step S95, the information processing control unit 200A determines whether or not handwriting input by the electronic pen 1A has been detected (step S96) based on whether or not a signal of a predetermined level or higher has been received from the electronic pen 1A via the position detection sensor 210, and monitors the handwriting input. Then, when it is determined in step S96 that handwriting input has been detected, the information processing control unit 200A stores coordinate information of the trajectory of the detected handwriting input (step S97).

[0161] Next, the information processing control unit 200A compares the pen ID information contained in the signal received as handwriting input with the pen ID information stored in the handwriting color information storage unit 206A to determine whether the two are a perfect match (step S98).

[0162] If it is determined in step S98 that the pen ID information contained in the signal received as handwriting input is a perfect match with the pen ID information stored in the handwriting color information storage unit 206A, the information processing control unit 200A uses the color information stored in the handwriting color information storage unit 206A to display the trajectory of the handwriting input in color on the display screen of the display unit 203 (step S99).

[0163] Furthermore, when it is determined in step S98 that the pen ID information contained in the signal received as handwriting input does not match the pen ID information stored in the handwriting color information storage unit 206A, the information processing control unit 200A displays the trajectory of the handwriting input on the display screen of the display unit 203 in a default color (step S100).

[0164] Then, after step S99 and step S100, the information processing control unit 200A determines whether or not the user has requested to change the writing color (step S111 in FIG. 17), and if it determines that a request to change the writing color has been made, returns the process to step S93 and repeats the processes from step S93 onwards.

[0165] Furthermore, when it is determined in step S111 that the user has not requested a change in the handwriting color, the information processing control unit 200A determines whether or not handwriting input has ended (step S112), and if it is determined that the handwriting input has not ended, the process returns to step S96, and the processes from step S96 onwards are repeated.

[0166] Furthermore, when it is determined in step S112 that handwriting input has ended, the information processing control unit 200A inquires as to whether or not to keep the handwriting color information through the display screen of the display unit 203 or through a voice message, determines the user's response to the inquiry (step S113), and if the user responds that the handwriting color information will be kept, returns the process to step S71 and repeats the processes from step S71 onwards.

[0167] Furthermore, when the information processing control unit 200A receives a response in step S113 that the writing color information will not be retained, the information processing control unit 200A erases the color information and the pen ID information as the writing color information stored in the writing color information storage unit 206A (step S114).Then, the information processing control unit 200A returns the process to step S71, and repeats the processes from step S71 onward.

[0168] As described above, in the second embodiment, pen ID information is used in addition to color information for authentication purposes, thereby providing higher security compared to the first embodiment in which only color information is used for authentication purposes.

[0169] In the second embodiment, the display control of the handwriting color uses the color information picked up by the pick-up unit 11A of the electronic pen 1A in the same manner as in the first embodiment, but since the pen ID information and the color information are associated with each other to create the handwriting color information, it is convenient that the handwriting can be displayed using the registered color information only for the handwriting input by the electronic pen 1A having the same pen ID. Note that the color information stored in the handwriting color information storage unit 206A may be associated with the coordinate information of the handwriting input stored in the electronic device 2A and stored.

[0170] [Third embodiment] The third embodiment is a modified example of the second embodiment. In the above-described second embodiment, the color information and the pen ID information are transmitted to the electronic device 2A from the wireless communication unit 118 included in the pickup unit 11A.

[0171] In contrast, in the electronic pen 1B of the third embodiment, the pickup unit 11B (not shown) does not have a wireless communication unit 118, but instead has a wireless communication unit 109 in the electronic pen main body 10B that performs wireless communication with the electronic device 2A, as shown in FIG. 18.

[0172] The control unit 103B of the electronic pen body unit 10B is configured to obtain color information from the pickup unit 11B via the USB interface 107, and transmit the color information together with the pen ID information stored in the pen ID memory 108 to the electronic device 2A via the wireless communication unit 109. That is, the third embodiment differs from the second embodiment only in that the color information and the pen ID information are wirelessly transmitted to the electronic device 2A from the electronic pen body unit 10B.

[0173] As shown in Fig. 18, the electronic pen body 10B of the electronic pen 1B in the third embodiment includes a wireless communication unit 109, and also includes a control unit 103B whose control function is slightly different from that of the second embodiment. The other configuration of the electronic pen body 10B is similar to that of the electronic pen body 10A in the second embodiment shown in Fig. 11, and the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0174] The hardware configuration of the pickup unit 11B is the same as that of the pickup unit 11 shown in FIG. 3 except that the wireless communication unit is removed, and therefore is not shown here.

[0175] Moreover, the processing operation in the electronic device 2A can be exactly the same as that in the second embodiment. That is, in the third embodiment, the electronic device 2A in the second embodiment can be used as it is, and therefore the description thereof, including the operation thereof, will be omitted here.

[0176] Fig. 19 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a pickup operation in the pickup unit 11B of the electronic pen 1B in the third embodiment, and Fig. 20 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of an operation of transmitting color information of the electronic pen main body 10B of the electronic pen 1B in the third embodiment.

[0177] In FIG. 19, processing steps from step S121 to step S125 are exactly the same as processing steps from step S1 to step S5 in FIG. 6 and steps S51 to step S55 in FIG.

[0178] In this third embodiment, after step S125, the control unit 116B (not shown) of the pickup unit 11B transmits the color information picked up and held in step S125 to the electronic pen body unit 10B via the USB interface 115 (step S126). In this case, the control unit 116B of the pickup unit 11B may include request information for wirelessly transmitting the color information to the electronic device 2A in the information on the color information transmitted via the USB interface 115.

[0179] After step S126, control unit 116B of pickup unit 11B monitors whether pressure detection switch 124 has changed from on to off (step S127), and when it determines that pressure detection switch 124 has changed from on to off, erases the color information stored in memory 119 (step S128), and returns the supply of power voltage from power supply circuit 117 to each circuit to a standby state (step S129). After step S129, control unit 116B returns the process to step S121, and repeats the processes from step S121 onwards.

[0180] The control unit 103B of the electronic pen main body 10B monitors whether color information is received from the pickup unit 11B via the USB interface 107 (step S131 in FIG. 20), and if it determines that no color information has been received, performs other processing (step S132), and then returns to step S131.

[0181] When control unit 103B determines in step S131 that color information has been received from pickup unit 11B, it temporarily holds the received color information (step S133). Then, control unit 103B reads out the pen ID information stored in pen ID memory 108, and wirelessly transmits the read out pen ID information and the color information acquired from pickup unit 11B to electronic device 2A via wireless communication unit 109 (step S134).

[0182] Then, the control unit 103B determines whether the transmission is complete (step S135), and if it determines that the transmission is not complete, returns to step S134 to continue the transmission process, and if it determines that the transmission is complete, erases the color information obtained from the pickup unit 11B that was temporarily held (step S136), and ends this processing routine.

[0183] In the example of Figure 20, it has been explained that the wireless transmission of color information and pen ID information is triggered by the reception of color information from pickup unit 11B. However, as described above, if information requesting wireless transmission to electronic device 2A is added to the color information from pickup unit 11B, the wireless transmission to electronic device 2A is triggered by the detection of the added information requesting wireless transmission.

[0184] In the third embodiment, the same effects as in the second embodiment can be obtained, and there is also an effect that the processing load in the control unit 116B of the pickup unit 11B is reduced.

[0185] In the second and third embodiments described above, the pickup units 11A, 11B are supplied with power supply voltage from the batteries BT of the electronic pen main bodies 10A, 10B, but it is of course possible for each of the pickup units 11A, 11B to be equipped with a battery.

[0186] [Modifications of the second and third embodiments] In the second and third embodiments described above, the color information picked up by the pickup unit and the pen ID information are transmitted as a pair to the electronic device 2A via the wireless communication unit 118 of the pickup unit 11A or the wireless communication unit 109 of the electronic pen body unit 10B. However, the color information may be transmitted to the electronic device 2A via the wireless communication unit 118 of the pickup unit 11A or the wireless communication unit 109 of the electronic pen body unit 10B, and the pen ID information may be included in a signal from the core 105 of the electronic pen body units 10A and 10B and transmitted to the electronic device 2A via the sensor unit, so that the color information and the pen ID information are transmitted via separate routes.

[0187] In the second and third embodiments, the paired information of the color information and the pen ID information is wirelessly transmitted through the wireless communication unit 118 or the wireless communication unit 109, but the paired information of the color information and the pen ID information may be included in a signal from the core 105 of the electronic pen main body 10 and transmitted to the electronic device 2A through the position detection sensor 210. In that case, it is not necessary to provide the wireless communication unit 118 or the wireless communication unit 109 and the wireless communication unit 204.

[0188] As a modification of the second and third embodiments, when the authentication target is a document file or image drawing file made by handwriting input using an electronic pen, or a folder thereof, the pre-registration of the authentication target can be omitted by using pen ID information. That is, the pen ID information of the electronic pen is associated with (added to) and stored in the document file or image drawing file made by handwriting input using an electronic pen. Then, in the case of a document file or folder that is the same as the pen ID information stored as authentication reference information, it is possible to recognize it as the authentication target and execute authentication based on color information. However, in this case, different color information cannot be set for each document file, image drawing file, or folder thereof, and authentication is performed based on a single common color information for one pen ID information.

[0189] [Fourth embodiment] The fourth embodiment is designed to provide even stricter security than the second and third embodiments, and adds a signature entered by a user into an electronic device using an electronic pen as authentication reference information.

[0190] The electronic pen constituting the fourth embodiment can be either the electronic pen 1A of the second embodiment or the electronic pen 1B of the third embodiment. Either may be used. Therefore, the pick-up operation of color information and the wireless transmission operation including pen ID information in the electronic pen 1A (or electronic pen 1B) constituting the fourth embodiment are the same as those in the electronic pen 1A of the second embodiment or the electronic pen 1B of the third embodiment. Therefore, the description thereof will be omitted here.

[0191] The hardware configuration of the electronic device 2C (not shown) constituting the fourth embodiment is similar to that of the electronic device 2A of the second and third embodiments described above. However, the information processing control unit 200C (not shown) included in the electronic device 2C of the fourth embodiment has control contents different from those of the information processing control unit 200A of the electronic device 2A of the second and third embodiments, and the authentication reference information storage unit 205C stores authentication reference information different from that of the authentication reference information storage unit 205A of the electronic device 2A of the second and third embodiments.

[0192] An example of the operation of the information processing control unit 200C of the electronic device 2C of the fourth embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

[0193] In FIG. 21, the processes from step S141 to step S145 are similar to the processes from step S71 to step S75 described with reference to FIG. 14 in the second embodiment, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted here.

[0194] In the fourth embodiment, when it is determined in step S145 that color information and pen ID information have been received, the information processing control unit 200C temporarily holds the received color information and pen ID (step S146).

[0195] Next, the information processing control unit 200C displays a signature input field (signature field) 203SG as shown in FIG. 25 on the display screen 203D of the display unit 203, and prompts the user to input a signature in the input field 203SG using the electronic pen 1A (or electronic pen 1B) (step S151 in FIG. 22).

[0196] In response to this prompt, the user inputs a signature in the input field 203SG with the electronic pen 1A (or electronic pen 1B). In this case, as described above, the core body 105 of the electronic pen 1A (or electronic pen 1B) transmits pen ID information, for example, as a time-division signal, in addition to the position detection signal and writing pressure information.

[0197] In electronic device 2C, position detection processing unit 21 (see FIG. 5) detects a signal sent from core body 105 of electronic pen 1A (or electronic pen 1B) through position detection sensor 210 by position detection control circuit 227, thereby detecting coordinates of the path indicated by core body 105 of electronic pen 1A (or electronic pen 1B) (handwriting information of signature), calculating a writing pressure value from the writing pressure information, and further detecting pen ID information. Then, position detection control circuit 227 supplies the detected handwriting information of the signature, writing pressure value information, and pen ID information to information processing control unit 200C.

[0198] The information processing control unit 200C accepts a signature input including handwriting information of the signature, pen pressure value information, and pen ID information from the position detection control circuit 227 (step S152), and compares the pen ID information included in the signature input with the pen ID information held in step S146 to determine whether the two are identical (step S153).

[0199] If it is determined in step S153 that the pen ID information included in the signature input is not the same as the pen ID information held in step S146, information processing control unit 200C refuses to accept the signature input (step S154). Information processing control unit 200C then returns the process to step S141 in Fig. 21, and repeats the processes from step S141 onwards.

[0200] The processing in steps S153 and S154 is to ensure that the electronic pen used to pick up color information and the electronic pen used to input a signature should be the same, and is believed to further strengthen security. However, since it is considered rare that the electronic pen used to pick up color information and the electronic pen used to input a signature are different, the processing steps in steps S153 and S154 may be omitted.

[0201] Then, if it is determined in step S153 that the pen ID information included in the signature input is the same as the pen ID information held in step S146, information processing control unit 200C determines whether the signature input has ended, for example, by determining whether end button icon 203ES on display screen 203D of Figure 25 has been clicked (step S155).

[0202] If it is determined in step S155 that the signature input has not ended, the information processing control unit 200C returns the process to step S152 and repeats the processes from step S152 onwards. If it is determined in step S155 that the signature input has ended, the information processing control unit 200C stores authentication reference information in which the color information, pen ID information, and signature information (coordinate information of the handwriting) held in step S146 are associated with the authentication target as table information as shown in Fig. 26 in the authentication reference information storage unit 205C (step S156).

[0203] After step S156, the information processing control unit 200C returns the process to step S141 in FIG. 21, and repeats the processes from step S141 onwards.

[0204] Then, when it is determined in step S147 in Fig. 21 that the processing event determined to have occurred in step S141 requests authentication, the information processing control unit 200C executes the processing from step S161 in Fig. 23. In this Fig. 23, the processing steps from step S161 to step S168 are similar to the processing steps from step S81 to step S88 in Fig. 15, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0205] Then, when it is determined in step S168 of FIG. 23 that authentication based on the pen ID is OK and authentication based on the color information is OK, the information processing control unit 200C displays a signature input field (signature field) 203SG as shown in FIG. 25 on the display screen 203D of the display unit 203, and prompts the user to input a signature in the input field 203SG using the electronic pen 1A (or electronic pen 1B) (step S171 of FIG. 22).

[0206] In response to this prompt, the user inputs a signature in the input field 203SG with the electronic pen 1A (or electronic pen 1B). In this case, as described above, the core body 105 of the electronic pen 1A (or electronic pen 1B) transmits pen ID information, for example, as a time-division signal, in addition to the position detection signal and writing pressure information.

[0207] In the electronic device 2C, as described above, the position detection control circuit 227 (see FIG. 5) of the position detection processing unit 21 detects the coordinates of the path (signature trace information) indicated by the core 105 of the electronic pen 1A (or electronic pen 1B), calculates the writing pressure value from the writing pressure information, and further detects pen ID information. Then, the position detection control circuit 227 supplies the detected signature trace information, writing pressure value information, and pen ID information to the information processing control unit 200C.

[0208] The information processing control unit 200C accepts a signature input including handwriting information of the signature, pen pressure value information, and pen ID information from the position detection control circuit 227 (step S172), and compares the pen ID information included in the signature input with the pen ID information held in step S162 to determine whether the two are identical (step S173).

[0209] If it is determined in step S173 that the pen ID information included in the signature input accepted in step S172 is not the same as the pen ID information held in step S162, information processing control unit 200C transitions to step S166 in Fig. 23 and notifies authentication NG. Information processing control unit 200C then returns to step S141 in Fig. 21 and repeats the processes from step S141 onwards.

[0210] The processing in steps S173 and S174 is to ensure that the electronic pen used to pick up color information and the electronic pen used to input a signature should be the same, and is believed to further strengthen security. However, since it is considered rare that the electronic pen used to pick up color information and the electronic pen used to input a signature are different, the processing steps in steps S173 and S174 may be omitted.

[0211] Then, if it is determined in step S173 that the pen ID information included in the signature input is the same as the pen ID information held in step S162, information processing control unit 200C determines whether the signature input has ended, for example, by determining whether end button icon 203ES on display screen 203D of Figure 25 has been clicked (step S174).

[0212] If it is determined in step S174 that the signature input has not ended, the process returns to step S172; if it is determined that the signature input has ended, information processing control unit 200C retains the signature input information (step S175) and compares the retained signature input information with the signature input information stored in authentication reference information storage unit 205C (step S176).

[0213] Then, the information processing control unit 200C determines whether authentication by signature is OK or not depending on whether the signatures match as a result of comparing the signature input information (step S177). Whether the signatures match is determined, for example, by whether the difference between the two pieces of input information being compared is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, and if it is equal to or less than the threshold, it is determined that authentication is OK, and if it is greater than the threshold, it is determined that authentication is not OK. In this case, when the threshold value is small, security is strict, and when it is large, security is weak.

[0214] If it is determined in step S177 that authentication by signature is NG, the information processing control unit 200C transitions the process to step S166 in Fig. 23 and notifies the user that authentication is NG. Thereafter, the information processing control unit 200C returns the process to step S141 in Fig. 21 and repeats the processes from step S141 onwards.

[0215] Moreover, if it is determined in step S177 that the authentication by signature is OK, the information processing control unit 200C permits the authentication target (step S178), and then returns the process to step S141 in FIG. 21, and repeats the processes from step S141 onwards.

[0216] In the fourth embodiment described above, authentication is performed based on signature in addition to authentication based on color information and authentication based on the pen ID, so that security can be tightened.

[0217] In the above description of the fourth embodiment, authentication using a signature is added to the authentication system of the second or third embodiment, but authentication using a signature may be added to the authentication system of the first embodiment. That is, security protection for the authentication target may be released only when both authentication using color information and authentication using a signature are successful.

[0218] [Other embodiments or modifications] In the above embodiment, the electronic device generates table information that stores authentication objects in association with authentication reference information, and performs authentication management and authentication control processing based on the table information, but it is also possible to add information indicating that security is being managed to each of the authentication objects such as application programs, files, and folders, and to add authentication reference information to each of the authentication objects. In that case, when an application program to be authenticated is started or a file or folder to be authenticated is opened, an authentication process similar to that described above is automatically started and executed, and whether or not authentication is allowed is determined.

[0219] In addition, in the recognition systems of the second to fourth embodiments described above, the color information is combined with the pen ID information of the electronic pens 1A and 1B to strengthen security more than the color information alone. However, the identification information of the pickup units 11A and 11B, which are separate from the electronic pen main units 10A and 10B, (unit ID of the pickup units) may be given to the pickup units 11A and 11B, which are separate from the electronic pen main units 10A and 10B, and a storage unit may be provided to store the identification information of the pickup units, and the identification information may be transmitted to the electronic device 2 together with the color information instead of the pen ID information. In this case, the means for transmitting the color information and the identification information from the electronic pens 1A and 1B to the electronic devices 2 and 2A may be a wireless communication unit mounted on the pickup units 11A and 11B, or may be a wireless communication unit mounted on the electronic pen main units 10A and 10B. The color information and the identification information may be included in a signal transmitted from the core 105 of the electronic pen main units 10A and 10B.

[0220] In this way, when the unit ID of the pickup unit is used as identification information to be transmitted together with the color information, if the pickup units 11A, 11B are provided with a wireless communication unit and equipped with a battery, the color information and the identification information of the pickup units 11A, 11B can be transmitted without being electrically connected to the electronic pen main body units 10A, 10B. Therefore, an electrical connection such as a USB connection as in the above example is not required between the pickup units 11A, 11B and the electronic pen main body units 10A, 10B, and they only need to be configured to be connectable.

[0221] In the above embodiment, the electronic pen is configured such that the electronic pen body and the pickup unit are separate and are combined together. However, it goes without saying that the electronic pen body and the pickup unit may not be separate, but may be configured as a single electronic pen configured to provide the functions of the electronic pen body and the pickup unit within the housing of the electronic pen. In this case, a functional part of the pickup unit having a lens exposed to the outside is provided on the rear end side of the housing of the electronic pen opposite to the core body side.

[0222] In the above embodiment, color information is picked up and used for authentication, so the light receiving unit 122 is configured with a phototransistor and is provided with a color detection circuit. However, the authentication system according to the present invention can also be configured to pick up image information instead of color information.

[0223] That is, in this case, the light receiving unit 122 is configured with an image sensor in which a plurality of light receiving cells are arranged two-dimensionally, and an image detection circuit that detects an image from the output of the image sensor is provided instead of a color detection circuit, so that the pickup unit can pick up an image of the area against which the rear end is pressed. In this case, it goes without saying that the image is not limited to a monochrome image, and a color image can also be picked up.

[0224] In addition, the electronic pen main body of the electronic pen in the above-mentioned embodiment is configured as an active capacitance type electronic pen that transmits a signal from a core body, but the type of electronic pen that interacts with the position detection sensor 210 may be any type. That is, it may be a passive type electronic pen or an electromagnetic induction type electronic pen. The electromagnetic induction type electronic pen may be a type that receives a signal from the position detection sensor 210 and returns it, or a type that has a signal generation circuit by itself. [Explanation of symbols]

[0225] 1, 1A, 1B... electronic pen, 2, 2A, 2C... electronic device, 10, 10A, 10B... electronic pen main body, 11, 11A, 11B... pickup unit, 113... lens, 118... wireless communication unit, 121... light emitting element, 122... light receiving unit, 123... color detection circuit, 124... pressure detection switch, 200... information processing control unit, 204... wireless communication unit, 205... authentication reference information storage unit, 210... position detection sensor

Claims

1. An authentication system including an electronic pen and an electronic device that receives a signal from the electronic pen and authenticates an object to be authenticated, The electronic pen is With a battery, a pickup unit provided at a rear end of the cylindrical housing opposite in an axial direction to a tip end for inputting a position by interacting with a position detection sensor, the pickup unit including a pickup circuit for picking up a color or an image of an arbitrary portion to obtain color information or image information, and a transmission unit for transmitting the color information or image information obtained by the pickup circuit to the electronic device; The electronic device includes: an authentication reference information storage unit that stores color authentication reference information or image authentication reference information; an authentication possibility determination unit that compares the color information or the image information received from the electronic pen with the color information for authentication reference or the image information for authentication reference stored in the authentication reference information storage unit to determine whether or not the authentication target is to be authenticated; In an authentication system comprising: The pickup unit includes: a detection means for detecting that a user has performed an operation for starting the pickup and an operation for terminating the pickup; a control unit that receives a voltage from the battery power source and goes into a standby state before the pickup is started to operate in order to monitor a state of detection by the detection means; Equipped with When the detection means detects that an operation for starting the pickup has been performed, the control unit controls the pickup circuit unit and the transmission unit to supply power supply voltage from the battery to cause the pickup circuit unit to execute the pickup operation, and controls the transmission unit to transmit the color information or the image information picked up by the pickup circuit unit to the electronic device, and when the detection means detects that an operation for terminating the pickup has been performed, controls the supply of power supply voltage from the battery to the pickup circuit unit and the transmission unit to be stopped.

1. An authentication system comprising:

2. the pickup unit of the electronic pen includes an identification information storage unit that stores unique identification information, and the transmission unit transmits the identification information of the identification information storage unit together with the color information or the image information picked up by the pickup circuit unit to the electronic device; The electronic device receives the identification information together with the color information or the image information transmitted from the electronic pen, and the authentication reference information storage unit stores the authentication reference information of the identification information in addition to the authentication reference information of the color or the authentication reference information of the image, and the authentication possibility determination unit determines whether or not authentication is possible by comparing the identification information in addition to the color information or the image information transmitted from the electronic pen with the authentication reference information of the color or the authentication reference information of the image stored in the authentication reference information storage unit and the authentication reference information of the identification information.

2. The authentication system according to claim 1 .

3. the electronic pen includes an identification information storage unit that stores unique identification information, and an identification information transmission unit that transmits the identification information of the identification information storage unit to the electronic device; The electronic device includes an identification information receiving unit that receives the identification information transmitted from the electronic pen, and the authentication reference information storage unit stores the authentication reference information of the identification information in addition to the authentication reference information of the color or the authentication reference information of the image, and the authentication possibility determination unit determines whether or not authentication is possible by comparing the identification information in addition to the color information or the image information transmitted from the electronic pen with the authentication reference information of the color or the authentication reference information of the image stored in the authentication reference information storage unit and the authentication reference information of the identification information.

2. The authentication system according to claim 1 .

4. The electronic device includes the position detection sensor, and the identification information transmission unit and the identification information reception unit of the electronic device transmit and receive the identification information through interaction between the electronic pen and the position detection sensor.

4. The authentication system according to claim 3.

5. the electronic device includes the position detection sensor, and a detection circuit that detects, via the position detection sensor, trajectory information corresponding to the position instruction input by the electronic pen; the authentication reference information storage unit stores authentication reference information of the trajectory information, The authentication possibility determination unit compares the color information or the image information transmitted from the electronic pen with the color authentication reference information or the image authentication reference information stored in the authentication reference information storage unit, and compares the trajectory information detected by the detection circuit with the authentication reference information of the trajectory information stored in the authentication reference information storage unit to determine whether authentication is possible.

5. The authentication system according to claim 1, wherein the authentication system is a computer-readable medium.

6. The transmission unit performs wireless communication according to a predetermined communication standard.

6. The authentication system according to claim 1, wherein the authentication system is a computer-readable medium.

7. The pickup unit is configured as a separate unit that is detachable from the main body of the electronic pen.

7. The authentication system according to claim 1, wherein the authentication method is a method for authenticating a user.

8. The pickup unit includes a second connector that is connected to a first connector provided in a main body of the electronic pen, and the pickup unit and the main body of the electronic pen are electrically connected to each other, and the battery is provided on the main body side of the electronic pen.

8. The authentication system according to claim 7.

9. The action for starting the pickup by the user detected by the detection means is an action of pressing the rear end of the pickup unit against the arbitrary part, and the action for ending the pickup is an action of releasing the state in which the pickup unit is pressed against the arbitrary part.

9. The authentication system according to claim 1, wherein the authentication system is a computer-readable medium.

10. The detection means is constituted by a pressure detection switch.

10. The authentication system according to claim 9.

11. the pickup unit has an opening at the rear end, The detection means detects that an action to start the pickup has been performed by the user when the opening side is pressed against a flat portion and a state in which external light is blocked from entering the opening is reached, and detects that an action to end the pickup has been performed when a state in which the state in which external light is blocked from entering the opening is released.

10. The authentication system according to claim 9.

12. The detection means is constituted by a contact sensor or a pressure sensor provided at the rear end of the pickup unit.

10. The authentication system according to claim 9.

13. the pickup unit has an opening at the rear end, and a light emitting element and a light receiving element are disposed inside the opening, When the detection means detects that an operation for starting the pickup has been performed, the control unit controls the light emitting element to start emitting light, irradiates the light from the light emitting element onto the pressed flat surface portion, receives the reflected light from the flat surface portion with the light receiving element, and acquires the color information or the image information from an output signal of the light receiving element. The authentication system according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. A lens is disposed in the opening.

14. The authentication system according to claim 13.

15. the lens protrudes outward from the opening and is disposed so as to be displaceable toward an inner side of the opening in an axial direction of the electronic pen when pressed down from the outside; The detection means is configured with a switch that changes its switch state in response to the displacement of the lens toward the inside of the opening.

15. The authentication system according to claim 14.

16. With a battery, a pickup unit provided at a rear end of a cylindrical housing on the opposite side in the axial direction to a tip end for inputting a position by interacting with a position detection sensor, the pickup unit including a pickup circuit for picking up a color or an image of an arbitrary portion to obtain color information or image information, and a transmission unit for transmitting the color information or the image information obtained by the pickup circuit to an external electronic device that performs authentication of the authentication target, as authentication information; The pickup unit includes: a detection means for detecting that a user has performed an operation for starting the pickup and an operation for terminating the pickup; a control unit that receives a voltage from the battery power source and goes into a standby state before the pickup is started to operate in order to monitor a state of detection by the detection means; Equipped with When the detection means detects that an operation for starting the pickup has been performed, the control unit controls the pickup circuit unit and the transmission unit to supply power supply voltage from the battery to cause the pickup circuit unit to execute the pickup operation, and controls the transmission unit to transmit the color information or the image information picked up by the pickup circuit unit to the electronic device, and when the detection means detects that an operation for terminating the pickup has been performed, controls the supply of power supply voltage from the battery to the pickup circuit unit and the transmission unit to be stopped.

1. An electronic pen comprising:

17. The transmission unit performs wireless communication according to a predetermined communication standard.

17. An electronic pen as claimed in claim 16.

18. The pickup unit is configured as a separate unit that is detachable from the main body of the electronic pen.

18. An electronic pen according to claim 16 or 17.

19. The pickup unit includes a second connector that is connected to a first connector provided in a main body of the electronic pen, and the pickup unit and the main body of the electronic pen are electrically connected to each other, and the battery is provided on the main body side of the electronic pen.

20. The electronic pen according to claim 18.

20. The action for starting the pickup by the user detected by the detection means is an action of pressing the rear end of the pickup unit against the arbitrary part, and the action for ending the pickup is an action of releasing the state in which the pickup unit is pressed against the arbitrary part. The electronic pen according to any one of claims 16 to 19.

21. The detection means is constituted by a pressure detection switch.

21. An electronic pen as claimed in claim 20.

22. the pickup unit has an opening at the rear end, The detection means detects that an action to start the pickup has been performed by the user when the opening side is pressed against a flat portion and a state in which external light is blocked from entering the opening is reached, and detects that an action to end the pickup has been performed when a state in which the state in which external light is blocked from entering the opening is released.

22. An electronic pen as claimed in claim 21.

23. The detection means is constituted by a contact sensor or a pressure sensor provided at the rear end of the pickup unit.

22. An electronic pen as claimed in claim 21.

24. the pickup unit has an opening at the rear end, and a light emitting element and a light receiving element are disposed inside the opening, When the detection means detects that an operation for starting the pickup has been performed, the control unit controls the light emitting element to start emitting light, irradiates the light from the light emitting element onto the pressed flat surface portion, receives the reflected light from the flat surface portion with the light receiving element, and acquires the color information or the image information from an output signal of the light receiving element. The electronic pen according to any one of claims 16 to 23.

25. A lens is disposed in the opening.

25. An electronic pen as claimed in claim 24.

26. the lens protrudes outward from the opening and is disposed so as to be displaceable toward an inner side of the opening in an axial direction of the electronic pen when pressed down from the outside; The detection means is configured with a switch that changes its switch state in response to the displacement of the lens toward the inside of the opening.

26. An electronic pen as claimed in claim 25.

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